BY MARIAH ESTRAN
PHOTO BY CLYDE MUNROE
On May 22nd, the electronic pop duo Midnight Kids released their new EP The Lost Youth. It is an exhilarating eight-track record that embodies a modern twist on the nostalgia-filled synthwave tempos and drums. But the presence of connectivity through the lyrics and the theme of being free without ever feeling alone is what paints the bigger picture for these two artists. They have created a world within their music, and fanbase that offers comfort in the most isolating times.
Midnight Kids took time to tell us more about their latest EP while expanding on their creative journey, inspirations, extra projects, and the innovative ways they stay connected with their fans.
Tell us more about who Midnight Kids is, and what made you two decide to create music together?
Midnight Kids: “Our names are Dylan and Kyle, we’re both 22 and have been making music for years now. We feel we fill in each other's gaps perfectly. It’s hard to be a completely well-rounded artist who’s good at everything, so having two of us who excel at different aspects of the project has really helped us grow the project.”
Midnight Kids has a very distinct nostalgic sound that’s reminiscent of 80’s new wave. What artists have influenced your sound?
MK: “We love getting lost in music that brings that sense of nostalgia. Artists like Justice, Madeon and Oliver are a few who've influenced our sound. We also love music outside of electronic music that brings that same nostalgic feeling, acts like The Band Camino, The 1975, and LANY.”
Not only do you two make your own tracks, but you also do a lot of remixes. What has been one of your favorites to make?
MK: ”Our favorite remix would probably have to be our Justice - Phantoms Pt.II remix! The sense of tension created in the intro with very minimal production is something that's hard to achieve but we love the way it turned out.”
You have released a new EP, The Lost Youth. How was the creative process? What inspired these eight tracks?
MK: ”Putting together this EP was a journey. We had a few different variations of it — number of songs, songs included vs. not included, track order — but we're super happy with how it came together. We wanted The Lost Youth to feel like a story, something you could listen to from beginning to end. Every track is a little different than the next, and we like that we're able to show different sides to ourselves for this body of work. There's something for everyone, whether it's a song about love, missing someone, going crazy or just having fun with friends.”
PHOTO BY DAN FRANCO
You two want to “encourage people to be comfortable with their story.” What new track do you feel really expressed that sentiment?
MK: “They all do! If we had to choose one, it would be ‘Monsters.’ That record is all about accepting yourself for who you are, it’s about making memories that will last and not worrying about what the rest will think. ‘Monsters’ is truly an anthem for the lost youth.”
What do you want listeners to take away after they listen to the new EP?
MK: “We hope The Lost Youth gives everyone a sense of freedom and escape. No matter what somebody is going through, they're not alone and there are others out there who want to help. Everyone should have a shoulder to lean on, during good times and bad. If you feel unheard or unseen, we hear you and see you. It's a message we've been spreading to everyone who's been on this journey with us.”
Due to the pandemic, we are living in a very uncertain time regarding live performances. What does Midnight Kids have planned next when it comes to visuals or other ways to provide content to your fans?
MK: “We have been working so hard on what’s next for us, but can’t share everything at the moment. However, we have been creating an amazing community online for people to feel safe and comfortable to tell their story in. We created a Discord server and Facebook group called The Lost Youth and we’ve met so many amazing people from it. Still to this day we are playing video games with them, hopping on late night group calls, it’s just such an amazing place for us to connect with everyone who’s been involved with the project.”